Poverty, exclusion, human rights, social protection, sustainable development, etc., World Social Justice Day is a reminder to tackle the multitude of issues facing humanity. And the path to usher change is often riddled with massive impediments and obstructions.
But the world can truly become a beautiful place based on the cornerstone of social justice when children become the harbingers of change and symbols for a paradigm shift in prevailing societal norms.
To transform the lives of children, and make them enduring symbols of hope, Kailash Satyarthi Children’s Foundation’s flagship programme, the Bal Mitra Gram or Child-Friendly Village, across 640 villages in six states, has established a holistic child protection model.
On the occasion of World Social Justice Day, here are some of the children who were earlier denied justice but have now become catalysts for social change.
Pooja Shahriya
From a remote village of Nahariya in Ganj Basoda block of Vidisha district in Madhya Pradesh, Pooja Shahriya is a celebrated name today for being the first in her tribal community to complete higher secondary education. At present, she is pursuing a Master’s degree in sociology.
The residents of Nahariya village are dependent solely upon stone mining for their livelihood and even children of the household contribute to the work. Child marriages are an intrinsic part of the societal norms, with boys being married by the age of 15 years and girls by the age of 13 years.
Earlier, the village had a single primary school and children were not keen on travelling to a different village for studies. For ages, the village never saw anyone study after primary education.
But things changed once the Bal Mitra Gram model was established. Not only did it raise awareness about the importance of education but it also opposed the illegality of child marriage. Through regular counselling, it informed children about their right to education and decision-making. With regular interventions, more than 30 students were admitted to schools.
During the pandemic, Pooja became a Bal Shikha Mitra and conducted online tuition classes for other children in the village. She is now a role model for many and her efforts have been recognised by the Women and Child Development Department, MP Government.
She has motivated many of her young sisters to continue education and has stood up for their rights whenever required.
Lalita Kumari
From Devpur village in the Koderma district of Jharkhand, 16-year-old Lalita Kumari completed her matriculation exam with 76% marks in 2021. For further study, the nearest senior secondary school was 17 kms away from her village.
Continuing education was a challenge, considering the economic situation of her family. Her parents were daily wage workers in Mica mines. Even Lalita was engaged in collecting Mica scraps before getting enrolled in the village school.
Lalita was not alone in this predicament. There were other children facing difficulties in continuing their education. As the president of Bal Mitra Gram Bal Panchayat, she firmly voiced the need for the children to continue education, even if it meant travelling several kilometres daily.
Initially, the village residents opposed her voice, but she held firm. She collaborated with the village gram panchayat for support. All thanks to her unwavering determination and raising of child rights-related issues, Lalita, along with other children, are now continuing their education.
The same village residents who earlier questioned the need for children to pursue higher education have now become a pillar of support.
Chaya Kumari
16-year-old Chaya Kumari of Baswaria village in Koderma district of Jharkhand is a brilliant student who secured 71% marks in the matriculation exam. But she faced a difficult childhood. While her father was an alcoholic, her mother worked as a daily wage worker in the nearby Mica mines. The family’s finances were in dire straits.
Chaya, against the wish of her father, joined the Bal Mitra Gram (BMG) and actively participated in its activities. She raised the issue of child rights in the Bal Panchayat. For participating in the activities of the BMG, she was reprimanded and beaten by her father. But she did not lose courage and continued to fight for child rights.
Gradually, Lalita’s father changed his attitude and became supportive. So did the other village residents, who understood the importance of education for children. But fighting for a shift in the societal notions about child rights had been a difficult endeavour for Lalita.
At present, Lalita is an active member of Bal Panchayat and motivates the children to get out of the rut of work and pursue education at any cost. Because of her efforts, scores of children have enrolled in the school.
She is also raising the issue of improving girls’ education in her village. Due to her efforts, changes are now visible in the village. Girl children who earlier used to be nothing more than a helping hand in doing household chores are joining the village school in large numbers.
Manish Kumar
Manish Kumar of Orai village in the Jalon district of UP lost his mother at a young age. His father was an alcoholic who regularly thrashed him for no reason.
Manish ran from his home and started to beg in trains. Fortunately, one day someone gave him the address of Mukti Ashram, the short-term rehabilitation centre established by Kailash Satyarthi in the outskirts of Delhi. Somehow in tatters, he managed to reach the place.
He was then sent to Bal Ashram — a long-term rehabilitation centre at Virat Nagar near Jaipur in Rajasthan — to receive an education. He spent 11 years at the Bal Ashram and participated in Bharat Yatra — the nationwide march against child sexual abuse and trafficking of children.
He also spoke in front of the then president of India. He ranked first in a painting competition organised by the Rajasthan government. Manish passed his matriculation exam with 72% marks, the second-highest marks in Bal Ashram in 2018.
At present, 18-year-old Manish Kumar has been selected for Bachelor in Physiotherapy from SRM Institute of Science and Technology. He had secured 66% marks in the senior secondary exams.